Sorbetto Tank Top

This simple tank is quick to make, with no closures to sew and a loose, swingy fit inspired by the easy elegance of the early 60s. The edges are finished with bias tape, which you can make yourself or purchase, and a single box pleat runs down the front. Wear it with slim pants, jeans, a summer skirt, or make a loungewear set with our free Madeleine Mini-Bloomers pattern.
Multi-sized from size 0 to 18

www.colettepatterns.com

TOOL S
sewing shears pins pattern weights marking pen or chalk

SU PPL I ES
main fabric thread 3 yards 1/2 bias tape (make or purchase - see note)

FABRIC

Lightweight fabrics such as cotton shirting, lawn, voile, batiste, swiss dot, crepe de chine, charmeuse.

10

12

14

16

18

BODY MEASUREMENTS
bust waist hip 33 25 35 34 26 36 35 27 37 36 28 38 37 29 39 38 1/2 40 30 1/2 32 40 1/2 42 42 34 44 44 36 46 46 38 48

FABRIC REQUIRED (YARDS )

main fabric 45 60 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 1 1/2

FINIS H ED GARMENT (INCH ES )

35 bust back length* 22 38 hem width 36 37 38 39 22 1/4 22 1/2 22 3/4 23 39 40 41 42 41 1/2 43 45 47 23 1/4 23 1/2 23 3/4 24 43 1/2 45 47 49 49 24 1/4 52

* back length is measured from the back of your neck to the hem.

A note on bias tape

For this top, you have the option of either purchasing pre-made 1/2 bias tape, or you can make your own! Making bias tape in the same fabric as the top gives it a polished look , but a contrasting fabric can be fun too. Think about a solid top with polka dot trim, or a small scale floral print. For a tutorial on making your own bias tape, visit: colettepatterns.com/go/continuous-bias-tape

This sewing pattern by Colette Patterns is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. For more info, see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

Getting Started
F I ND YO U R S I ZE
Use the size chart to determine your size. Colette Patterns have less ease than many other patterns to provide a closer, more tailored fit. If you are between sizes, choose the larger size.

A SS E M B L E T H E PAT TE R N
Print out the pieces that form your pattern. Look for the 4 by 4 test square and measure it to insure that your pattern has printed correctly. Cut out each of the 6 by 10 rectangles that contain your pattern. Tape the pieces together, matching up the numbers/ letters as shown in the diagram. Cut out your pattern!

L AY O U T T H E PIE C E S
Lay out the pattern pieces as shown in the cutting layout diagrams. Use pattern weights to hold the pattern in place, which will allow you to cut more accurately than pinning the pattern to the fabric. Start by placing the pieces that go along the fold. Lay out the other pieces, making sure the grainline arrow is parallel to the selvedge. To do this, measure from each end of the arrow to the selvage. The distances should be exactly the same from both points.

T R AC E T H E PAT TE R N
Use your marking pen, pencil, or chalk to trace the pattern pieces onto your fabric, and transfer all of the pattern markings onto the wrong side of the fabric, including notches and circles. Mark the center front of pieces that are cut on the fold. This will help you to align pieces accurately.

CUT I T O U T
Cut along the outlines youve traced, cutting away any pen or pencil lines. Also cut out the notches that appear on the edges. These will help you to line up pieces.

S EA M A L L OWAN C E
Seam allowances are included in the pattern, and are a standard 5/8 for all seams, except the armholes and neckline. These include a 1/4 seam allowance, since they are finished with bias tape.

Cutting Layout
A L L S I ZE S ( 45 or 6 0 fabric) fold right side of fabric B A wrong side of fabric

selvage

Instructions
STAY ST I TC H

1
A

Staystitch the neckline on both blouse front (A) and blouse back (B) to prevent stretching. Note: For visual clarity, the staystitching wont be shown in the diagrams that follow.

What is staystitching? B
Staystitching around curved edges (such as necklines) helps prevent them from stretching out, making them easier to match up later. Simply machine stitch along the edge, slightly within the seam allowance. Since this blouse has a 1/4 seam allowance at the neckline, staystitch about 1/8 from the edge.

ST I TC H DARTS

1
A

On blouse front (A), stitch darts in place. To do this, bring the dart legs together and stitch from the edge toward the tip. Tie off darts at the tip by sewing just to the edge of your fabric (do not backstitch), then tie the tails together at the tip. Press darts downward.

2 3

ST I TC H C EN TE R PLE AT

1 2
A

On blouse front (A), bring the two pleat lines together with wrong sides together, and pin. With right side facing you, stitch the pleat by stitching down the pleat line. Press the pleat stitches to set them. Try to press the stitches with the tip of your iron and avoid pressing the center fold if possible. This will help prevent a crease running down the center of your blouse.

4 5
A

On the right side of blouse front (A), press the pleat flat, centering it over the stitching. Press again from the wrong side.

6
A

Machine baste the top and bottom of the pleat to hold it in place.

ST I TC H F RO N T TO BAC K

1 2 3 4

With right sides together, stitch blouse front (A) to blouse back (B) at shoulders. Finish shoulder seams and press open.

With right sides together, stitch blouse front (A) to blouse back (B) at sides. Finish side seams and press open.

ST I TC H B I AS TAPE

Exposed Bias facing

For this blouse, were going to use an exposed bias facing on the neckline and armholes. This is very much like using bias tape as a facing, except that the bias tape is turned to the outside of the garment for a decrative effect. Its also a little less bulk y than a bias binding finish. Remember, you can get a complete tutorial for making your own bias tape at: colettepatterns.com/go/continuous-bias-tape

1
B

Unfold the bias tape completely and pin it all around the neckline, with the right side of the bias tape facing the wrong side of the garment. Be sure to pay attention to the right and wrong sides! Leave a gap of 2-3 inches at the back of the neckline, and leave a few inches of bias tape trailing on each side.

3
B

Stitch the bias tape around the neckline, stopping when you reach the gap. Your bias tape should be unfolded, and you will stitch it along the foldline closest to the edge.

4
B

Now take the two ends of the bias tape and pinch them together with right sides together, leaving enough room to cover the gap. Pin in place and adjust the pin until the bias tape is the right length.

5 6 7

Stitch the ends together at the place you pinned them. Trim the excess bias tape ends and press this small seam in the bias tape open. Stitch the bias tape to the neckline across the gap that you left. You should now have the bias tape joined in a circle around the neckline!

8 9 10

Turn the bias tape to the outside, tucking in the remaining fold that runs along the length of the bias tape. Pin in place. Edgetitch the bias tape to the neckline, close to the fold. Use this same technique (steps 1-9) to finish each of the armhole circles.

ST I TC H H E M

1 2 3

Create a narrow hem. To do this, first turn the hem 1/4 , toward the wrong side, and press. Turn again 3/8 and press. Stitch the hem in place.

some ideas:
You can sew just about any embelishment to the center pleat and completely change the look. Try a bit of lace, or rows of ribbons. Sew a few buttons down the center front. Use leftover bias tape to make little bows that can be sewn at the neckline, or down the pleat.

Ask questions and see what other people are making on our forums at colettepatterns.com, and add your creation to our Flickr pool at flickr.com/groups/colettepatterns/